PUMPING RHYTHM
Mike Kreger is one of the smoothest dirt jumpers (and racers) you’ll ever see. Yesterday we shot some sequences for the BMX book. Here’s Mike pumping a set of double jumps.
|
Click to open in a new window (or tab). |
Of note:
- Mike always drives through his feet, and his hands are always super neutral.
- He gets some style in the air, but right before he lands, he pushes his butt back. This is key.
- He lands with his body low and back on the bike. This keeps him balanced over the BB and gives him leg range to pump. On a mountain bike he’d be even lower and farther back, because MTBs require more energy than BMX bikes.
- As he swoops down the backside, he pushes with his legs and passes through centered position. He hits the next face, and repeats all the way down the line.
- This pump more than doubles his speed, from 10 to 25 mph!
Pretty sweet. For a detailed explanation, check out the forthcoming book.
– Lee
Place: A Line, The Fix Bike Shop, Boulder, CO, USA, Earth
Bike: Intense Factory Alloy Cruiser
2 Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Chris Says August 1, 2008 @ 12:44 pm
Lee, is the increase in speed at his wheels, or linear(?). I assume the latter judging by his helmet but unless the camera travels perpindicular to the rider it is a little hard to tell.
I would like to see two identical jumps in a row and the speed difference between the first gap and the second with and without pumping. Gravity ensures the speed in the bowl is faster, but how much fast with and without pumping the landing?
leelikesbikes Says August 1, 2008 @ 12:52 pm
Linear (estimated).
That’s a great question, but I doubt I could get anyone to ride that line without pumping the transition!
I suppose the gravitation effect can be estimated mathematically, but I lack the time (but not the interest) right now.